This lesson is based on viewing the Historica Minute, "Valour Road." By coincidence, 3 of the 69 Canadian men who were awarded the Victoria Cross in the First World War had grown up on the same street in Winnipeg. This street was renamed Valour Road in their honour.

By coming up with their own film treatments and planning a Remembrance Day ceremony, students will decide how the First World War should be depicted and commemorated.

1. Looking closely at the Minute

Whenever filmmakers dramatize history, they make choices that give events a point of view and a message. Part of looking critically at television is recognizing such choices.

In small groups, have students discuss the stories. If they were to make a film (or films) from these stories, what choices would they make? Have them generate some ideas about how they would tell the stories on film. What would they include or omit? What incidents and characters would they focus on? How would they cast the characters? How would they reveal the characters' emotions?

Once they have fleshed out their own film "treatments," have them analyze their work. What would their films show about the war and about the heroism of the men? How would it be different from the Historica Minute? What might be similar?

Have student groups compare their treatments, then discuss some of the attitudes toward military heroism and warfare that the students' ideas imply.

Students can apply what they have learned to other war films, looking for implied messages and attitudes in the films.

2. Remembering the war

Every year, the end of the First World War is commemorated at "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month," the time the armistice was signed. We call the holiday Remembrance Day now, and it has become a day of tribute to those who died serving in all wars.

Schools often hold assemblies for Remembrance Day. Sometimes veterans create them, but often students plan the ceremonies. In small groups, have students plan their own Remembrance Day assemblies. First, students must clarify what messages they want to get across, then they should script their ceremonies. What specific music, images, or film would they use? What would they say? Would they use words at all?

Have the students share their ideas. Discuss the effectiveness of them. If they are serious about the assignment, some students might volunteer to conduct the next Remembrance Day assembly.